Steam pumping-engine.



No. 663,9!0. Patentsd Dec. I8, |900'.

F. M. LEAVITT. STEAM PUMPING ENGINE. (Application med Jan. so, 1699.) (No Mqdl.) 4 Sheets-Silent Il.

F/G. 7. F/G. 2.

No. 663,910. Patented Dec. I8, |900,

F. M. LEAVITT. :STEAM PUMPING ENGINE.A

(Application led Jan. 30, 1899.)

(N'u Model.)v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2..

WITNESSESZ NVENTORI E; By /zz's lorneys,

fn: Noms virus co, malrumn. wAsmuamN. n c.

No. 663.53m.

Patented' Dec. I8, |900. F. M. LEAVITT. STEAM PUMPING ENGINE.

(Appucmon med Jan. ao, 1399.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

IN'VENTOR; ffm( J1@- WITN ESSES No. 663,9I0. Patented Dec. I8, |900.

. F. M. LEAVITT.

STEAM PUMPING ENGINE.

(Application led Jan. 30, 1899.)

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4. F/G 7 3.

7 ad, 7 A W l de/MA IIIIIVIIIII WTNESSES M -f/fm mams PErER cn., Puo

UNITED STATES Arent* trice.

FRANK IVLLEAVITT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,"ASSIGNOR TO THE E. W. BLISS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

STEAM pompiere-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters'tatent No. 663.910, dated VDecember 1e, leoo.

Application filed January S0. 1899. Serial No. 703,773. (No model.)

.To all whom t may concern: air-pu 1n p. Fig. ll is a vertical section on the Re it known that I, FRANK M. LEAVITT, a line 1l ll, Fig. l, showing in detail the concitizen of the United States, residing in New struction of the water-pump and air-pump York, (Brooklyn,)in the county of Kings and and their connection with the piston-rod. 55 5 State of New York, haveinvented certain new Fig. l2 is a similar section of part of Fig. ll, and useful Improvements in Steam Pumpingshowing the water-pump plunger exposed for Engines, of which the following is a speeifiinspection. Fig. 13 is anenlarged vertical cation. section taken on the line 13 15, Fig. l, looking This invention relates to atmospheric or from the right; and Fig. 14 is a top View of 6o io vacuum engines, and particularly to doublethe nut used in connecting the pump-rod to acting engines. Vacuum-engines are chiefiy the piston-rod. employed for small power purposes, such as The engine thus illustrated is a double-actpumping water for domestic establishments, ing vacuum steam-engine having a surface for railway-tanks, shops, dac., or for driving condenser and a double-acting water-pump 65 I5 small light machinery. As engines for such and single-acting air-pump, which are arpurposes are commonly operated where there ranged in line with the steam-cylinder. is no licensed engineer, it is important for Referring to the drawings,Adesignates the safety that the steam-pressure in the boiler base, upon which is mounted a hollow standbe practically m'l or only sufficient to cause ard B, which is adapted to support all ofthe 7o 2o a circulation of steam through the engine in operating parts of the engine. The standard starting. Hence such engines are operated B has at its upper end an oil-chamber a. prefeutirely or almost entirely by atmospheric erably cast integrally with said standard, a pressure due to the condensation of the steam `wall or partition b dividing the oil-chamber admitted to the cylinder. It is important from the lower part of said hollow standard, 75 2; that an engine for use in domestic establishin which is located the condenser-chamber O, ments should be of compact form, occupying as will be hereinafter more fully described. as small floor-space as possible, and should be The oil-chamber()J is formed with an enlarged of such construction that it. requires but litextension or compartment a', as shown partle attention and at the same time be of low ticularly in Figs. l and 5. The crank-shaft 8o 3o cost and efcient in operation. Afurtherde D is located chiey in said oil-chamber, said sirable feature is that the lubrication of the shaft rotating in bearings c and c', that may, bearings should be facilitated and theleakage as shown, be formed integrally with the walls of oil prevented. My invention aims to proof said chamber. One end of said shaft produce an engine of this character; and it conjects out through the wall of said chamber 85 5; sists in the novel features hereinafter more and carries the fly-wheel E and the other end fully pointed out in the claims. extends into the compartment d and is The accompanying drawings show the preformed with the crankd. :ferred construction of engine embodying my Upon the top of standard Bis mounted the present invention, whereinw steam-cylinder F,With its steain-cl1estG,which 9o 4o Figure l is a vertical mid-section. Fig. 2Y are preferably of one piece. The steam-chest is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is avertical sec- G is of usual construction, having the ports e tion of the lower part of Fig. 2, showing thel and e. leading to the steaincylinder, which arrangement of the condenser tubes, plates, are controlled by the ordinary slide-valve l-I. and passages. Fig. lis an elevation of the This valve is actuated by the eccentric I, se- 95 43 engine and boiler connected. The remain` cured on the shaft D by the nutf, the eccening views are on a larger scale, of which Figs. tric strap or ring being connected toi the valve 5, u, 7, 8, and 9 are horizontal sections taken by the valve-rod H. The steam-cylinder F on the lines 5 5, l t3, 7 7, S 8, and 9 9, respecis of peculiar construction and, together with tively, of Fig. l. Fig. l0 is avertical section the piston J, constitutes one of the features :too 5o taken on the line lO l0, Fig. 2, and showing of my invention. The upper head of said the construction of the discharge-valve of the cylinder is in the form of a dome and extends (nl: upwardly from the cylinder-walls, while the lowerhead F is also yof dome shape, but extends into the cylinder. The cylinder-head is preferably one integral casting, having below said dome-shaped portion a wall g, whereby is formeda chamber h. The piston-rod K passes down, as usual, through the lower head and the chamber h, which opens against the piston-rod, preferably at the upper end of the chamber. The piston J is dome-shaped, conforming to the heads of the steam-cylinder. The object of this peculiar construction of piston and cylinder is as follows: It is of importance in an engine of this class where the pressure is limited to avoid the use of packing wherever possible, consistent with the avoidance of und ue leakage, in order to avoid the friction resulting from such packing. By forming the piston in the shape of a dome a broad bearing-surface is obtained, and by forming this bearing-surface with a number of circumferential grooves i i the use of` packing isavoided. Thedomeshapeofthelowercylinder-head admits of the formation of the chamber 71. within it, and thus reduces the height of the engine, securing a compactness of construction which is of importance i'n an engine of this character. The chamber h is connected to the steam-chest by a duct j, by means of which live steam is conducted to said chamber and comes against the piston-rod. As before stated, it is important to avoid the Vuse of packing in engines yof this class, and this applies to the piston-rod, the ordinary stuffing-box for which is difficult to keep tight and the friction of which reduces the efficiency of the engine. In case of any leakage of air through such stuffing-boxit partially destroys the vacuum and overtaxes the airpump. A leakage of steam into the cylinder,

however, is of slight consequence, as it can be easily condensed and disposed of by the air-pump. Bytheconstructionjustdescribed l'not only do away with the friction of a stu fflng-hox, but effectually preventany leakagey of air into the cylinder around the piston-rod and provide that whatever leakage occurs into the exhaust will necessarily be of steam, which, as before stated, is `of no consequence. The inner wall of the chamber h is preferably extended upwardly, surrounding the pistonrod,so as to form a neck Any through which the'piston-rod works. water of condensationdrains to the lower part of said chamber and is carried olf by a pipe k, which may lead to the ash-pan of the' boiler-furnace, as shown-in Fig. 4, or to any other suitable waste.

By reason of the described construction the piston-rod works in the chamber h, whereby" inwardly. S uch leakage',l1owever,is of trifling amount, because the rod is a close working fit with the neck and the steam is under very little pressure. A similar neck separates the chamber h from the interior of the cylinder, so that any leakage into the cylinder, `such as is liable to occur during the exhaust-stroke, is a leakage of steam from the chamber h instead of a leakage of air from the exterior. The means thus described for dispensing with a stufng-bo'x and protecting the exhaust against leakage of air is not herein broadly claimed, beingthe subject-matter of another application filed by me on January i8, 1899, Serial No. 702,498., f' f The piston rod K extends downwardly through the com partment a', passing through a stuffing-box L in the lowerwall thereof. Said rod. is connected in any suitable way to the crank d, the construction shown, which is preferred by reason of its compactness, being that ofa slotted cross-head Z, formed on the rod,'with a sliding block m working in saidcross-head, the crank-stud d turning in saidbloc'k, whereby the crank-shaft is driven from the piston-rod in a usual manner.

The chamber d is designed to contain .oil for the lubrication of the various bearings contained therein, the oil being orefe1aloly kept at about the level shown, so that at every revolution of the shaft D the crank d and block 'm and its slideway in the cross-head1 will com e inA contact with the oil, and the eccentric also turns in the oil. The shaft-bearings c c. and'stuffing-box L will also be lubricated and enough oil will spat'ter or be thrown up to lubricate the valve-rod H. Oil may be' poured in by lifting off cover 0,2. A further object of the chamber a is to receive any water of condensation which may leak into it around the valve-rod H and the piston-rod K. Such water will of course sink to the bottomofsaidl chamber and eventually find its way out vthrough the stuffing-box L. If the 'chamber a,th'erefore, is keptv supplied with oil, the bearings and other frictional surfaces ofthe engine and pumps will need no attention, and this is a particular advantage where the engine is used in residences and lother places Where an engineer or skilled atcast inthe standard B and which is adapted to receivethe oil and water leaking into the basin n. Preferably the receptacle p is arranged directly beneath the spout n', so that the drip from the latter falls directly into said receptacle. A cock p may be arranged IOO IIO

in the wall of said receptacle 10 for the purpose of drawing ott the oil and water therefrom.

I will now describe the condenser and ai rpump.

The condenser-chamber C,as before stated, is formed by the hollow standard B and is divided from the oil-cham ber a by the wall or partition b. The base A is formed with a depression in its top, which forms a chamber q, into which the exhaust-steam is led from the steam-cylinder by the pipe q, as shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 4. Between the base 'and hollow standard are conined two plates M and O, which serve as condensertube plates. The inner tubes r r of the condenser are mounted in the plate M and communicate with the chamber or space q. The outer tubes s s otl the condenser, which are closed at the top, are xed at the bottom in the upper tube-plate O. Between the two plates is formed a chamber t, which communicates with the air-pump N by means of the pipe u, as shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 3. The two plates M and O are bolted or otherwise detachably secured between the base and the hollow standard, into the chainber C of which latter the tubes r and s extend. While I prefer to construct the base and tubeplates as shown, it is obvious that these parts may be formed in any, way so that a chamber is provided which communicates with the inner tubes, and a second chamber is also provided,which communicates with the outer tubes, and that these two chambers have no connection between them except through the condensing-tubes.

The air-pump consists of a shell c, formed with a cylinder n', which is arranged in line with the steam-cylinder, a plunger w, and the inlet and outlet valves and 0J'. The cylinder is supported by a pendent arm or bracket secured to the water-pump shell in a manner to be described.

The construction of the valves t and ct' is shown particularly in Figs. 10 and ll. They may be provided with the ordinary winged guides and with knobs or projections x2 on top, which are designed to limit the upward movement of said valves by coming in contact with the valve-caps y y. These caps are preferably provided with central projections or knobs and are held firmly in position by yokes a a', each of which is pivoted on a bolt z', passing through the pump-shell t beneath, and is provided with a vertical set-screw a2, which is adapted to be screwed down on the top projection of the cap y and by means of which an extremely tight it is obtained, the cap being ground toits seat, or it may be luted or otherwise made tight. When it is necessary or desirable to examine these valves, the vertical screws are loosened and the yokes allowed to swing over past the caps, which are removed and the valves lifted out. The pump-plunger w is formed at its upper end with a cross-head P. This head is connected.

to the steam piston-rod by means of two rods P P, which connect it with a cross-head P2 onsaid piston-rod, as shown particularly in Fig. 1l. By preference the cross-head P2 is formed integrally with the basin n and its spout W.

The course of the steam is as follows: Steam enters the valve-chest through the steam-pipe leading Jfrom the boiler and is admitted to the steam cylinder through the usual cylinder-ports. After entering the eX- haust-passage the steam tlows down through exhaust-pipe q to the chamber q of the condenser, where it rises through the inner condensing-tubes r r until it reaches the top thereof, when it descends between the inner tubes and the outer tubes s s and is condensed, and the water ot' condensation Hows into the chamber t and thence to the airpum p through pipe u.

The Water-pump Q, is double-acting and is constructed with a shell Q, which is preferably cast integrally with the standard. The pump-cylinder 15 is located vertically in said casting and in line with the piston-rod K and air-pump cylinder 'u'. The pump-rod 16 receives its movement from the piston-rod K, to which it is coupled. Said pump-rod 16 extends through a stuiing-box 17 and carries at its lower end the pump piston 0r plunger 18. Said stuffing-box 17 is secured in place by a ring or collar 19, which ts over the neck of said stuffing-box against a shoulder thereon and is held in position by set-screws 2l) 20, which screw into the pump-shell. rlhe plunger 18 is provided with reversely-cupped packing-rings, which are confined in place in a usual manner.

The pump-rod 1G is coupled to the pistonrod K in the following manner: The pistonrod is provided with a central bore 21, which is ot' sufficient length and diameter to allow the pump-rod to slide up therein a sufficient distance to expose its plunger. The lower end of the piston-rod is screw-threaded exteriorly, as shown particularly in Fig. ll. The upper end of the pump-rod is also screwthreaded to take a nut or screw-head 22.. A coupling nut or union 23, having a socket at its lower part to receive the nut 22 and being screw-threaded at its upper part, is adapted to tit over said coupling-nut and screw onto the piston-rod K in the manner shown. The nut 22 is preferably provided with a pin 24, which tits into a hole in the end of the pistou-rod to prevent the rotation of the nut and pump-rod during the screwing u p ofthe Linien. Vhen thus united, the nut 22 is held securely against the end of the pistou-rod by the union 23, thus coupling the two rods together. ln order that the nutor screw-head 22 may be clamped tirmly upon the threaded end of the rod 16, l prefer to construct it as an eXpansible nut by splitting it, as shown in plan, Fig. 14, and I form its outer surface or the inner walls of the socket in the union 23, or both, of conical form, so that the act IOO IIO

IZO

of screwing up the 'union serves to compress the divided nut 22, so as to close it together and cause it to bind tightly upon the threaded end of the rod, whereby any turning of the rod which might cause it to partially unscrew or to screw in too far is avoided. I do not wishto be limited to the particular connection here shown and described, as other connections may be used which accomplish the same result. When it is desired to inspect the pump-plunger, the coupling-nut 23 is unscrewed from the piston-rod K and dropped down, and the nut 22 is then unscrewed and taken off, after which the coupling-nut may be removed. The pump-rod is then pressed down to the bottom of its stroke and the stuffing-box 17 removed by unscrewing the setscrews 20.. The pump-rod is then pushed up into the bore 21 of the piston-rod, exposing the plunger, as shown inFig. 12. Thus access may be had to the plunger-packing and the latter may be renewed.

The pump-shell has formed within it the chamber 25, which is located in front ofthe pumpcylinder15and is connected to the water-supply by the pipe 26. The usual suction-valves 27 27 control the upper and lower outlets from said chamber 25, .which outlets lead to the upper and lower passages 28 28. The discharge-valves 29 29 control the flow through said passages 28 into the condenserchamber C in a usual manner, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 13.

Openings are formed in the upper and lower Walls of the pump-shell, through which access can be had to the suction-valves 27 27. To form closures for said openings, upper and lower cap-plates 30 -30 are used, each of which has formed on its inner side a circular ange 31, which extends around the stem of the valve and is designed to limit the.`

movement of the valve, as shown. Said capplates are held in position by the bolts 32, which pass through said plates on opposite sides of the pump-shell, said bolts being guided hylugs 33, formed on the pump-shell.

Suitable openings are also formed in the sides of the pum p-shell for access to the dischargevalves 29 29, and to form closures therefor the caps 34may be employed. 'Ihese caps are arranged in pairs, each pair being connectedl 7 The yokesy 35 are provided with central holes 36, and

bya yoke 35, as shown in Fig. 13.

the pump-'shell is also provided with a coincident hole 37. The caps 34 are held in position over the valve-openings by a bolt 38,

passing through said holes in the yokes andk said cap-plate is located between the rods Pv P', which connect the air-pump plunger to.

the piston-rod, as `before described, and is provided with the extensions 42, having the holes 4:3, Fig. 9, by means of which it is bolted to lugs 44 on the under side of the pumpshell. The cap-plate 40 when in position is not at right angles to the pump-shell, but is turned to avoid the connecting-rods P P', as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The pump rod and plunger may be removed or inserted through the hole 39; but as this will necessitate the entire disconnection of the air-pump I' prefer to do this by the more convenient means hereinbefore described.

To enable the shaft D to be inserted and removed, I provide the front of the chamber a a with a large opening closed by a disk or cover h. By removing this access is had to the crank d. I By taking ott the ily-wheel and through the top opening slacking oit the nut fand the eccentric and then removing the lblock m and setting the crank at half-throw the shaft D. maybe removed through the slot in the head Z and through'the front opening.

It will be seen thatby my invention I produce a double-acting vacuum-engine which is of simple and econ-omical construction and efficient in operation. The connection of the operating-rods ofk the water and air pumps directly with the piston-rod dispenses with separate connectionswith the shaft and their bearings, which is a very desirable feature. The whole engine is compactly arranged, being designed to occupy as small floor-space as possible, and the bearings are all inclosed and protected from dust, zc. All of the fric- `tionalsurfaces are practically self-lubricat IOO ing, and at the Sametime there is no leakage of oil on and about the engine. For these reasons myinvention is particularly adapted for use in residences,.where it is essential that an engine should be capable of efficient operation with little or no attention.

1. A vacuum pumping-engine comprising an upright hollow standard having within it a condenser, the engine-cyli nder mounted on said standard, above said condenser, the pump-cylinder mounted on the side of said standard below and in line with the enginecylinder, a direct connection between the engine-piston and pu mp-plunger, a rotary shaft mount-ed between said cylinder and pump, connected to the engine-piston, and driven thereby, having bearings on said standard above vsaid condenser, and the engine-valve f driven from said shaft. v v

2. A vacuum pumping-engine, comprising a steam-cylinder, a piston-rod working in said cylinder, a water-pump located under said cylinder in line therewith, the operatingrod of said pump being connected to said piston-rod, an air-pump located below and in line with said water-pump, a cross-head connected to said piston-rod,'a cross-head carried by the air-pump plunger and two rods connecting said cross-heads, arranged on opposite sides of the water-pump.

IIO

IIS

3. In a pumping-engine, the combination with a stcani-cyliinler and a water-pump located in'line with said cylinder, of a pistonrod having a central bore, a pum p-rod carrying a plunger and having its upper end connected to said piston-rod, and adapted when disconnected from said piston-rod to slide up into said bore a distance sufficient to expose said plunger.

4. In a pumping-engine the combination With a steam-cylinder and a water-pump located below said cylinder and in line therewith, of a piston-rod having a central bore, a pump-rod carrying a plunger, and a coupling adapted to detachably connect the pumprod to the piston-rod, said pump-rod being adapted when disconnected from said pistonrod to slide up into said bore a distance sufiicient to expose said plunger.

5. In a pumping-engine, the combination with a steam-cylinder and a water-pump located below said cylinder, and in line therewith, of a piston-rod having its lower end screw-threaded and formed with a central bore, a pump-rod adapted to slide into said bore, and having its upper end screw-threaded, a u ut adapted to screw on said pump-rod, and a union adapted to unite said nut to the end of the piston-rod, whereby when said nut and union are unscrewed the pump-rod may be elevated into the bore of the piston-rod, to get access to the pump-plunger.

In a pumping-engine, the combination with a steam-cylinder and a Water-pump located below said cylinder, and in line therewith, of a piston-rod having its lower end screw-threaded and formed with a central bore, a pump-rod adapted to slide into said bore, and having its upper end screw-threaded, a divided nut adapted to screw on said pump-rod, and a coupling-nut adapted to lit over said divided nut and screw on the end of the piston-rod, said nuts being so formed that the divided nut is cramped about the end of the pump-rod and held firmly against the piston-rod, after said coupling-nut is screwed in place. l

'7. In a pumping-engine the combination with a piston-rod, an oil-chamber inclcsing bearings for the crank shaft and crank through which chamber said piston-rod eX- tends, and a stuffing-box for said piston-rod located at the bottom of said chamber, of a basin surrounding and secured to said rod below said stuffing-box, adapted to receive any leakage from said stuffing-box, and a receptacle into which said leakage is conducted from said basin.

8. In a pumping-engine'the combination with ahollow stand ard,an oil-chamber mounted thereon, a piston-rod extending through said chamber, and a stuffing-box for said pisl ton-rod, located at the bottom of said chaming-box, and a receptacle formed in said hollow standard, to which said leakage is conducted.

9. In a pumping-engine the combination with a hollow standard,an oil-chamber mounted thereon, a piston-rod extending through said chamber, and a stuffing-box for said piston-rod, located at the bottom of said chamber, of a basin surrounding and secured to said piston-rod below said stuffing-box, and having a lip or spout, said basin being adapted to receive any leakage through said stuifing-box, and a receptacle formed in said hollow standard and located under said basin, into which said leakage d rips from said basin.

l0. In a vacuum-engine, the combination of a steam-chest and a steam-cylinder having a lower dome-shaped head having within it a live-steam chamber through which the piston-rod extends, and a steam-port leading to said chamber.

ll. In a pumping-engine, the combination of a steam-chest anda steam-cylinder having a lower dome-shaped head having within it a live-steam chamber through which the piston-rod extends, and formed with a neck extending upwardly and surrounding said piston-rod, and a steam -port leading to4 said chamber. 1

l2. In a pumping-engine, the combination of a steam-chest and a steam-cylinder having a lower dome-shaped head having within it a live-steam chamber through which the pistonrod extends, and formed with a neck extending upwardly and surrounding said pistonrod, a steam-portleading to said chamber, and a drainage-pipe adapted to draw off any water of condensation formed in said chamber.

13. In a pumping-engine the combination with the piston-rod and the main shaft having a crank engaged by said rod, of an oilchamber inclosing said crank and having bearings for said shaft, said shaft and bearings being so formed that the shaft may be removed endwise from said bearings without displacing the latter, and said chamber having a hand-hole opposite said crank to permit the removal of the shaft from its bearings, and a cover for said hand-hole.

14. In a pumping-engine, the combination of a main shaft, having a crank at one end, an oil-chamberinclosing said crank, and having bearings for said shaft, said chamber having a hand-hole opposite said crank to permit the endwise removal of the shaft from its bearing, a cover for said hand-hole, and a piston-rod extending within said chamber and engaging said crank, whereby upon removal of the cover and disengagement of said crank and rod, the shaft may be removed eudwise from its bearings through said hand-hole.

15. In a pumping-engine, the combination of a shaft having a crank, a piston-rod for rotating said shaft having a slotted cross-head, its slot large enough to admit said crankshaft and crank to pass through it, and a block sliding in said cross-head and engaging IOO IIO

said crank and adapted to be moved out of eni gagement therewith without disturbing said piston-rod, whereby upon removal of said block the shaft may be withdrawn from its bearings through the slot in said cross-head.

16. In a pumping-engine, the combination with a chamber having bearings for a shaft, and a shaft mounted in said bearings and having a crank at its outer end, of a piston-rod having a slotted orosshead, its slot large enough to admit said crank shaft to pass through it, a block sliding in said cross-head and engaging said crank, said chamber having a hand-hole opposite the end of said shaft, and a cover for said hand-hole, whereby upon removal'of `said cover and sliding block the shaft may be removed from said chamber through the'slot in said cross-head without disturbing the piston-rod.

17. In a pumping-engine,the combinationV and a basin located on said piston-rod below said stufng-box,'whereby any Water of condensation escaping around said rods will be caught in said chamber and pass through saidl stuffing-box into said basin. y

18. In a pumping-engine, the combination with a steam chest and cylinder, of a chamber located beneath said chest and cylinder, a valve-rod passing from said chest into said chamber, a piston-rod passing from said cylinder into and through said chamber, a stuifing-boX for said piston-rod located at the bottom of said chamber, a basin located on said FRANK M. LEAVITT.

Witnesses:

FRANK C. B. PAGE, F. D. MAOKAY. 

